Headset Advice (I've been at the allam keys)

[CoolC]

You might get away with just new bearings, but as headsets are reasonably cheap you might as well replace the whole lot.

From your description, you're doing everything correctly, so just plain worn out rather than any "damage"

Oh and being pedantic, it's Allen key.

[anonymous-user]

That sounds a lot like a dying headset. But they die a slow death, so don't fret too much.

[thetrash]

Have you checked to see if the expander bolt isn't slipping in the fork?

[Benmac]

The bit about adjustment is right at the bottom but have a read of the rest of it to learn about the various components in a threadless headset.

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/threadles...

[Fastpedeller]

Once you are familiar with all the parts and assembly procedure, if you want to get more life out of it aside from cleaning it and regreasing you may consider swapping the bearing cups which are in the top and bottom of the headtube. These cups are usually the same (do check carefully) and the lower one will be more worn than the upper, as it takes more of a pounding and also get the road dirt.

[gazza285]

Step away from the allam keys.

[BadgerBenji]

gazza285 said:

Step away from the allam keys.

And use Allen keys

[anonymous-user]

When you tighten that bolt in the headset, the top cap pushes down onto the headtube and pulls against a star bolt wedged in the fork steerer tube to ensure its all tight. Carbon forks have an alloy sleeve to ensure the star nut doesnt dig into the carbon. In this picture the nut was not gripping the steerer tube and pulled up too far. You can tap the star nut back down into the steerer tube easily enough, just dont tap it down too far.... like I did, then you have two start nuts in the steerer tube....



Effectively you are pulling the bottom of the forks up and compressing it all a bit by tightening that top bolt, if you tighten it too much you will knacker the bearings and but too much stress through the head tube, you can get hex keys which are set to click at 5Nm, I think Ritchey do them, for carbon bits they are essential.

Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 6th March 15:30

[bakerstreet]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

You might find that you can straighten it by just holding the wheel between your legs and pulling the bars round. I have also ridden with my bars like that and I agree it feels very odd

[deadtom]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

1) yes sounds like you are doing it right

2) like someone else said headsets die a slow death, it should be fine for another week or so